ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team fell short in their second game of the 2025 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament. After claiming victory 5-4 over #3 Central Washington in the first game of the day, the Yellowjackets came up short 15-0 to #1 Northwest Nazarene. That moves all three teams to 1-1 on the tournament and the 'Jackets will face off against CWU at 1:00 PM (MT) with the winner moving on to play NNU at 4:00 PM (MT) for the championship.
 
Also highlighting the day, Zack Blaszak surpassed the single season MSUB hits record and now sits at 76 hits and counting. In game two of the day, Sam Coxen made the start and threw the first five innings with five strikeouts before being relieved by Gunner Thompson. Thompson had a solid outing in his first GNAC Tournament appearance, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out one in his two innings of work. The Yellowjackets also saw appearances from Jaxon Meyer and Malcom Bartholomew who closed out the eighth with one strikeout and zero runs.
 
The Nighthawks Ernesto Lugo-Canchola had one of his best outings of the season, throwing a nine-inning complete game while striking out eight hitters and allowing just two hits and zero runs. Despite that, Ryker Fortier was able to break up his no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning. Fortier singled up the middle and was able to put himself in scoring position, capitalizing on a ball in the dirt but was left stranded. Also tallying a hit in the matchup was Jack Nehler who also singled in the top of the seventh inning, but the Yellowjackets were again unable to convert. Other notable at bats were from Blaszak and Nate May who were able to draw walks to put pressure on but were unable to come around to score.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings baseball team is back in action tomorrow against #3 Central Washington at 1:00 PM (MT) where the winner of that game will move on to play #1 NNU at 4:00 PM (MT) for the championship. Live statistics for the GNAC Tournament can be found here, the live stream link can be found here, and tickets can be purchased here.